If things aren’t cleaned up quick, the Patriots could be in for a long season ahead. The first game on their schedule resulted in an ugly loss against the division rival Miami Dolphins, and this could result in much more erosion as the season progresses.

To say the way the season began this past Sunday was ugly would be an understatement. The Dolphins jumped to a quick 10-0 lead due to two turnovers committed by the offense, and never looked back. Although the defense came up big in the second half and seemed to get stops, the new-look Patriots offense just couldn’t produce on any level.

There were glimpses here and there of what the offense could be, though. We saw a deep ball catch from Jakobi Meyers which showed great delivery from Mac Jones and even better finishing by Meyers. We also saw Jonnu Smith get into the mix in the passing and running game as well, something that’s been on the horizon for a while now and something that I really want to see more of this season. But Mac Jones and the offense just couldn’t get on the same page for crucial drives, and that resulted in the frustrating loss that we witnessed.

If this is a precursor of how the rest of the season will go, the Patriots won’t be able to even sniff the playoffs. Because of the competition in the division, and obviously the rest of the AFC, there is little room for the types of mistakes and miscues that we saw on Sunday. The Bills and Dolphins are the closest and biggest threats, and the Patriots will have to respond accordingly to both when those games come.

I’d say the biggest issue for the team, and it’s no surprise, is the offense. Since training camp it’s seemed as if things haven’t been clicking and with no offensive coordinator, all over the place. Mac Jones seems uneasy in the pocket, and now there are reports that he is dealing with back spasms to add to it. This injury shouldn’t be too serious, but it’s definitely not what the team needs right now. Additionally, there seems to be some drama going on with Kendrick Bourne and his lack of playing time/targets. He caught just one ball on Sunday for 41 yards, after establishing himself last year as probably the most reliable receiver on the team. If this is an ongoing issue, it’s going to have to get cleaned up as soon as possible for future success this season.

The Patriots will travel to Pittsburgh this week to face the Steelers, who are coming off an overtime win over Super Bowl contenders in the Cincinnati Bengals. Because of the loss to the Dolphins and the level of difficulty for the rest of the season, this turns into a must win game. It will not be easy for the offense because of how strong Pittsburgh’s defense is, but with some injuries lingering the Steeler’s defensive front, Mac Jones might have some more time in the pocket, given if he is healthy and ready to go. It’s safe to say, though, that the defense will have to keep the Patriots in this one, and take advantage of QB Mitch Trubisky’s flaws on offense.